Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Great to see 33053 out today on a running day. With any luck it won't be to long before we get some news on visiting locos for the diesel gala.

 

According to a press release I read earlier from the NRM, this year they will be spending considerable amounts on their class 20, 37, 40 and 47 with the only one not being operable being the class 40. Along with D9002 that would give them 4 x diesels and didn't I see somewhere that the MHR gala would feature the NRM fleet? If that's the case then not a bad line-up already with the resident 33, 50 and 205.

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Even better to see a "3 train service" today too - though you can keep your box Lee!

Beside the two service trains, there was this - https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/34558481100/ - never ever seen the RAT stock looking so smart - right posh it were, crisp white linen tablecloths, fancy glass bowls with boiled sweets & frame table numbers on each table!

41312 on the Alton set - tight shot thanks to the encroaching vegetation! https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/34558479380/in/photostream/

92212 on the Alresford set - https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/34102814494/in/photostream/

 

45379 sat at the end of my garden for an hour or so whilst waiting for the service trains, which was nice. Not able to get out myself as I have work on-call phone until Tuesday and today and it rang quite a bit.

One from Friday RAT and two from last night. Lineside at Northside lane is looking a bit cleaner thanks to the PW gang
Diesel RAT by Arle Images, on Flickr

Late Spring RAT by Arle Images, on Flickr

Rookwood Silhouette by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

Cheltenham out today...

 

The Crompton took the empty stock from Friday nights RAT back to Alresford before starting its running day. Shown at Ropley before and after departure.

 

Here is 34052 Lord Dowding on her way to Ropley MPD this afternoon pausing at Guildford
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76017 has returned facing country. Also 92212 was out in place of 925 on the Alresford set.

Northside Lane is looking much smarter now, thanks to all in the PW team!

James

 

Here are a couple more shots of 34052 at Guildford this afternoon on her way to Ropley. Apparently she is staying at the MHR until around 14th June

 

34007 Wadebridge is off to Eastleigh after the Summer Gala to be displayed in the town Centre as part of a special weekend of activities to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the end of SR Steam.
Over the weekend of 15th/16th July 34007 will be on display in the town centre along with exhibitions relating to the towns railway contributions, miniature steam displays, screenings of rare rail films, vintage buses and the Gordon Keeble owners club. Information from the latest issue of The Railway Magazine out on Wednesday 7th June.

 

This great programme from 1977 has been posted on the MHR website FB page. How many of the faces do folks remember from the early days? My Father says he remembers most of them.
Also 31874 is shown running with a Bulleid whistle (from 34016?)

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=416474005392302

 

I do wish the MHR would provide accurate and up to date loco roster on their website. Three times this year, our car load has headed for the SVR on our monthly grice, (which is considerably further away) because of their ability to provide this info. That's the revenue from 12 all day rovers lost just in my friendship group. Hardly mega bucks of course, but every little helps....

 

Agree very annoying

 

If you feel yourselves getting bored with the SVR the GWSR also has a splendidly up to date loco roster.

 

Just wait until one of yours has an unforseeable failure requiring its temporary withdrawal and you get yah boo, yah boo comments from some gricer.

PH (who is not connected with the M.H.R.)

 

I was only being facetious, but on a general point, I have never heard of anyone complaining about a roster that was inaccurate due to a loco failure, compared to many complaining about a lack of an up to date roster altogether. Anyone interested enough to look at a loco roster usually knows enough about steam locos to appreciate they're temperamental and not to get too wound up about the fact. I've been on several trains where people have asked me "what happened to xxxx" and if I can I'll tell them exactly what's wrong and they'll go "ah well, these things happen, hope I have better luck next time."

 

Just wait until.........

PH

 

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